Trip Report Return to Malpelo, July 20-30, 2023 on Colombia Dive Adventures, Ferox

[Dan]

I don’t think it’s a requirement. It helps you climbing up the ladder. It’s a safer & easier way in getting on the RIB.

When you go diving with Ferox (& Vivax), your BCD, tank & fins stay in RIB. You just need to get on the RIB with your wetsuit on, mask around your neck & bring your camera if you are into underwater photography.

When we arrive at the dive site, the RIB pilot will give you your fins and help you don your BCD. When everyone is ready to enter the water, he’s going to count to three. Everyone back rolls into the water at the same time at third count.

During surface interval, your tank will be refilled on the RIB.

 

[NothingClever]

The eels get the better part of a melodramatic crescendo in the soundtrack music in this oldie but goodie video.

 

[NothingClever]

During surface interval, your tank will be refilled on the RIB.

That's interesting.

How do they accomplish that?

I assumed they took two tanks and then break for a meal back onboard the mothership while they use a long whip to fill one of the tanks on board the RIB before heading out for the third dive.

I'm all ears!

 

[rongoodman]

That's interesting.

How do they accomplish that?

I assumed they took two tanks and then break for a meal back onboard the mothership while they use a long whip to fill one of the tanks on board the RIB before heading out for the third dive.

I'm all ears!

The surface intervals are spent aboard the mothership, not on the RIBs.

 

[NothingClever]

The surface intervals are spent aboard the mothership, not on the RIBs.

That makes a ton more sense.

 

[scubadada]

The surface intervals are spent aboard the mothership, not on the RIBs.

That makes a ton more sense.

The surface intervals averaged 2 1/2 hours on my 2021 trip, very leisurely

Trip Report Post in thread 'The Magic of Malpelo, July 9-18, 2021 on the Ferox'

Aug 10, 2021

Diving

When I think of the diving on Malpelo, the one word that seems like the best descriptor, is wild. There are currents, sometimes strong, often changing during the dive. There is surge, sometimes strong. On one dive, I would take a kick or two to slow my backward movement, only to shoot forward at a very fast rate during the forward motion. There were significant thermoclines. Often, the surface and shallow temperatures would be 80-81 degrees and would drop abruptly to 72-73 at depth. I dived in a full 5 mm full suit with a 5/3 mm hooded vest. This was the best choice for me...

• scubadada

• 

 

[Dan]

That's interesting.

How do they accomplish that?

I assumed they took two tanks and then break for a meal back onboard the mothership while they use a long whip to fill one of the tanks on board the RIB before heading out for the third dive.

I'm all ears!

We take one tank / diver, go to the dive site & come back to refill the tanks for the next dive each time. Once you set up your BCD on a SCUBA tank, you stick with it for the rest of the trip. No need swapping empty tank with a full one.

They have Nuvair compressor & Nitrox membrane skid with 14 of 50L 300bar tanks mounted on the port side stern of Ferox with long hose to refill scuba tanks in RIB.

You just bring the RIB next to the port side of the stern of the boat, lower the HP manifold hoses to the RIB, connect all 7 HP hoses onto the SCUBA tanks and refill them in 10 minutes to about 220 Bars.

Below is the picture of the Ferox’s Nuvair compressor & Nitrox membrane system with a bank of 14 of 50L 300-Bar tanks underneath the skid.

 

[Dan]

The surface intervals averaged 2 1/2 hours on my 2021 trip, very leisurely

Trip Report Post in thread 'The Magic of Malpelo, July 9-18, 2021 on the Ferox'

Aug 10, 2021

Diving

When I think of the diving on Malpelo, the one word that seems like the best descriptor, is wild. There are currents, sometimes strong, often changing during the dive. There is surge, sometimes strong. On one dive, I would take a kick or two to slow my backward movement, only to shoot forward at a very fast rate during the forward motion. There were significant thermoclines. Often, the surface and shallow temperatures would be 80-81 degrees and would drop abruptly to 72-73 at depth. I dived in a full 5 mm full suit with a 5/3 mm hooded vest. This was the best choice for me...

• scubadada

• 

Yes!

Here’s a typical daily program for 3 dives / day.

 

[NothingClever]

All I can say is I wish I had booked earlier!

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Yes!

Here’s a typical daily program for 3 dives / day.

View attachment 910787

DIVE - EAT - DIVE - EAT - DIVE - EAT - SLEEP

That is a perfect day!!!